Liverpool confirm Klopp appointment

Matt Stead

Former Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp has agreed to become the next Liverpool manager.

Klopp was the heavy favourite to replace Brendan Rodgers after the Northern Irishman’s sacking late last week and, after rumours all day that negotiations had been completed, Liverpool have finally confirmed the appointment.

The German has agreed a three-year contract at the club and will now have just over a week to work with the club’s non-international players during the current break, with his first game coming next Saturday against Tottenham.

Klopp is expected to draft in his own backroom after reports claimed assistant manager Sean O’Driscoll, first team coach Gary McAllister and two other members of staff from Brendan Rodgers’ tenure were relieved of their duties.

Klopp is likely to bring with him Bosnian Zeljko Buvac, his assistant both at Dortmund and Mainz before that, and coach Peter Krawietz.

As well as O’Driscoll and McAllister, head of performance Glen Driscoll and head of opposition analysis Chris Davies, who followed Rodgers to Anfield from Swansea in 2012, have also lost their jobs.

Former Reds midfielder McAllister has been offered an ambassadorial-type role within the club but has yet to decide whether to take it up.

The former Scotland international took training this morning along with one member of staff Pep Lijnders, promoted in the summer from the club’s academy as a player development coach, who has kept his job.

It appears the position of head of fitness and conditioning Ryland Morgans, another Rodgers recruit from Swansea, is also safe for now.